DE Group Research Articles

Echo-planar DWI variants: A comparative study in vertebral marrow pathology.

Single-shot echo-planar imaging (ss-EPI) has limited application in vertebral column imaging due to numerous artifacts. Therefore, we aimed to compare readout-segmented echo-planar imaging (rs-EPI) to ss-EPI and assess its value in the differential diagnosis of vertebral infectious, tumoral infiltrative, and degenerative disorders. Sixty-six adult patients with spondylodiscitis (SD, n = 26), tumoral infiltration (TI, n = 20), or Modic type I degeneration (DE, n = 20) findings on spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) included in this retrospective study. Two radiologists scored images for quality on a 4-point scale (image resolution, degree of geometric distortion, lesion selectivity, and diagnostic reliability) and measured signal intensity (SI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). DE and SD groups also united to form the benign group. In all groups, rs-EPI performed better than ss-EPI in image quality, SNR, and CNR (p < .05). The difference between mean pathological ADC (ADCP) in the two sequences was statistically significant (p < .05). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of ADCP in rs-EPI (p = .229), unlike ss-EPI (p = .025). Pathological SI (SIP) and CNR in rs-EPI were significantly higher in the malignant group than benign group (p = .002, p < .001). In rs-EPI, no significant difference was found between malignant and benign groups' ADCP (p = .13). The rs-EPI is a diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) method with higher image quality that diminishes motion-induced phase errors and increases resolution through phase corrections. However, the distinction of malignant and benign vertebral bone marrow pathologies is unsatisfactory for rs-EPI compared with ss-EPI.

Effect of depression and the antidepressant fluoxetine on osseointegration-A pre-clinical invivo experimental study.

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of depression and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on implant osseointegration and bone healing. Forty-eight 6- to 8-week-old SPF Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into four groups: the Control group, the Fluoxetine group, the Depression group and the De&Flu group. The rats in the Depression group and the De&Flu group were subjected to a depression modelling process, and the rats in the Control group and the Fluoxetine group were raised normally. Then, a titanium implant was placed in the right tibia of each rat. In the Fluoxetine group and De&Flu group, fluoxetine was injected subcutaneously daily, while subcutaneously injecting physiological saline in the Control group and Depression group. Collecting serum from the rats used for ELISA. The surgical area was cut for microcomputed tomography and histology observation. After 12 weeks, bone mineral density was lower in the De&Flu group than in the Control group, Depression group and Fluoxetine group. Bone mineral density was also lower in the Depression group and the Fluoxetine group than in the Control group. The percentage of bone-implant contact (BIC%) in De&Flu rats was lower than in the Control, Depression and Fluoxetine groups. The BIC% in the Depression group and the Fluoxetine group was lower than in the Control group. Depression and fluoxetine negatively affect bone density and implant osseointegration independently, and this damaging effect is exacerbated when both factors are present. The mechanism may be related to the dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and inflammation in the body.

The preventive and therapeutic consumption of meat enriched with carob fruit extract, rich in phenolic compounds, improves colonic antioxidant status in late-stage T2DM rats

Oxidative stress is prevalent in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and has been associated with high meat consumption. Carob Fruit Extract (CFE) contains phenolic compounds, making it a suitable functional ingredient. Current study aims to evaluate the effect of CFE-enriched meat (CFE-meat) consumption on the antioxidant status of proximal and distal colon, and its relationship with fecal phenolic compounds in late-stage T2DM rats. Three groups of eight rats were studied: 1) D, fed control-meat; 2) ED, fed CFE-meat since the beginning of the study; 3) DE, fed CFE-meat after confirming T2DM. CFE-meat consumption reduces colonic oxidative stress mainly in the proximal section and helps to ameliorate glutathione metabolism and antioxidant score. Difference between ED and DE groups were associated with colon homeostasis and T2DM progression suggesting greater fermentation but lower absorption in the DE group. CFE appears as a promising tool to improve the antioxidant status observed in late-stage T2DM.

Histopathological Evaluation of Eggshell and DBM Combination on the Repair of Critical Size Experimental Calvarial Bone Defects in Rats.

Fracture repair is a constant clinical challenge, and finding a method to promote and improve restoration is a primary goal for researchers. This is examined from various perspectives, such as fewer complications, increased speed, and cost-effectiveness. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of eggshell powder, compared to the commercial form of demineralized bone matrix (DBM), in critical-size defects in rat calvarial bone. In this study, 40 adult male Wistar rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups of 10. The first group was the control group (C), the second was the eggshell powder group (E), the third was the DBM group (D), and the fourth was the one simultaneously receiving eggshell powder and DBM (DE). In these groups, a 5 mm diameter defect was created in the calvaria using a trephine. All animals received the appropriate treatment for their group. Each group was then divided into two subgroups of five. On days 30 and 60 post-surgery, these subgroups were euthanized, followed by sampling and histopathology examinations. After evaluating the repair percentage using Quick Photo software, the DE group had the highest repair percentage on days 30 and 60. Groups E and D had similar recovery percentages, with group D having a slightly higher one. There was a significant difference between all three groups and the control group. In conclusion, eggshell powder may potentially serve as a suitable substitute for some transplants.

Effects of exercise-targeted hippocampal PDE-4 methylation on synaptic plasticity and spatial learning/memory impairments in D-galactose-induced aging rats

Physical exercise reduces the effects of aging and cognitive decline by improving synaptic plasticity and spatial learning. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are unclear. A total of 45 Male SPF Sprague–Dawley rats were acclimatized and then allocated into three groups, 15 in each group: the saline control (DC) group, D-gal-induced aging (DA) group, and D-gal-induced aging + exercise (DE) group. Six weeks of intraperitoneal injections of D-gal at a concentration of 100 mg/kg body weight/d was injected to establish model of aging in the DA and DE groups. Morris water maze test was implemented to evaluate the hippocampus related cognition. SOD activity and MDA was tested to assess the aging in all groups. H&E and Nissl staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of hippocampal neurons in aging rats. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining techniques were used to investigate the expression of synaptic genes and proteins in the hippocampus. Massarray methylation system was employed to measure the PDE-4 gene methylation level in rat hippocampal tissues. Our results demonstrated that exercise intervention improves cognitive function in D-gal-induced aging rats. The methylation of CpG sites in PDE-4 in the hippocampus was significantly increased. The physical exercise significantly increased PDE-4 gene methylation and effectively decreased PDE-4 gene and protein expression. These beneficial behavioral and morphological effects were attributed to PDE-4 methylation, which was activated cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway and improved synaptic plasticity. Exercise induced PDE-4 methylation is key mechanism underpinning the amelioration of learning/memory impairment, suggesting the potential efficacy of physical exercise training in delaying brain aging.

Facial EMG startle response and self-report reactions after exposure to severely underweight and severely obese body images in individuals with disordered eating: An examination of motivational responses

Examining appetitive and aversive responses toward body image stimuli of those with disordered eating may illuminate motivational systems unique to eating pathology. The current study extended previous literature by examining self-report and startle responses to a range of body sizes. In this cross-sectional design, female, adult participants (n = 45) were sorted into disordered eating (DE; n = 22) and healthy control (HC; n = 23) groups based on Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire global scores that were one standard deviation above or below normative values. Participants viewed eight computer-generated female body pictures from each group: severely underweight (BMI < 16.0), average (BMI 18.5–24.99), and severely obese (BMI > 40.0). Startle responses and self-reported valence and anxiety scores were collected to assess implicit and explicit reactions. 2 × 3 ANCOVA/ANOVAs were used to examine startle responses and self-report differences between groups, in response to image types. Results indicated startle responses did not differ between groups. There was a significant main effect for body picture type (p < .001), after controlling for psychotropic medication. Startle responses were higher for severely underweight body images compared to severely obese body images, although non-significant at post-hoc. The DE group reported higher levels of anxiety and sadness when viewing body images compared to the HC group. Average bodies were rated as less anxiety provoking and more positive than severely underweight and obese bodies. Group differences in anxiety and valence scores could be due to more maladaptive cognitions related to fear of weight gain among people with disordered eating.

Serum Levels of S100B Protein and Myelin Basic Protein as a Potential Biomarkers of Recurrent Depressive Disorders.

Nowadays, nervous tissue damage proteins in serum are considered promising drug targets and biomarkers of Mood Disorders. In a cross-sectional naturalistic study, the S100B, MBP and GFAP levels in the blood serum were compared between two diagnostic groups (patients with Depressive Episode (DE, n = 28) and patients with Recurrent Depressive Disorder (RDD, n = 21)), and healthy controls (n = 25). The diagnostic value of serum markers was assessed by ROC analysis. In the DE group, we did not find changed levels of S100B, MBP and GFAP compared with controls. In the RDD group, we found decreased S100B level (p = 0.011) and increased MBP level (p = 0.015) in comparison to those in healthy controls. Provided ROC analysis indicates that MBP contributes to the development of a DE (AUC = 0.676; 95%Cl 0.525-0.826; p = 0.028), and S100B and MBP have a significant effect on the development of RDD (AUC = 0.732; 95%Cl 0.560-0.903; p = 0.013 and AUC = 0.712; 95%Cl 0.557-0.867; p = 0.015, correspondingly). The study of serum markers of nervous tissue damage in patients with a current DE indicates signs of disintegration of structural and functional relationships, dysfunction of gliotransmission, and impaired secretion of neurospecific proteins. Modified functions of astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are implicated in the pathophysiology of RDD.

Vision-Related Quality of Life among Patients with Different Types of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

This study aimed to assess the vision-related quality of life (VRQol) of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to evaluate VRQol according to different types of AMD. In this small-scale, single-center, prospective investigation, patients with AMD and subjects without any signs of macular disease were asked to complete the NEI-VFQ-39. A total of 159 subjects were included and grouped according to the type of AMD as follows: 40 patients with dry AMD in both eyes (DD), 40 patients with exudative AMD in one eye (DE), 41 patients with exudative AMD in both eyes (EE), and 38 subjects without any signs of macular disease, as a control group (CG). The average age of the participants was 76 ± 7 years, and 44% were male. Most participants were retired (22.4%), and 75% of patients were initially diagnosed by their ophthalmologist. All the AMD groups had significantly worse overall VRQol than the CG. For general vision, near vision, mental health, and role difficulties, all the AMD groups had significantly lower scores than the CG. For distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, driving difficulties, dependency, and social functioning, only patients in the EE and DE groups had significantly worse scores than the CG. The type of retinal fluid in patients with exudative AMD had no effect on overall VRQol; however, we found that the presence of pigment epithelial detachment could be associated with more role difficulties, such as completing work or working long hours. All types of AMD had a negative effect on vision-related quality of life. This effect was significantly more pronounced in patients with exudative AMD in at least one eye. However, the type of retinal fluid in patients with exudative AMD had no influence on their overall vision-related quality of life.

Resveratrol mitigates miR-212-3p mediated progression of diesel exhaust-induced pulmonary fibrosis by regulating SIRT1/FoxO3

BackgroundDiesel exhaust (DE) exposure contributes to the progression of chronic respiratory diseases and is associated with dysregulation of microRNA expression. The present study aims to investigate the involvement of miRNAs and target genes in DE-induced lung fibrosis. MethodsC57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups. Group 1 mice were exposed to filtered air (Control). Group 2 mice were exposed to DE for 30 min per day, 5 days per week, for 8 weeks (DE). Group 3 mice received DE exposure along with resveratrol on alternate days for the last 2 weeks (DE + RES). Mice were sacrificed to isolate RNA from lung tissue for miRNA microarray profiling. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissues were collected for cell count and biochemical analysis. ResultsDE exposure resulted in differential expression of 28 miRNAs with fold change >2 (p < 0.05). The upregulated miR-212-3p was selected for further analysis. Consensus analysis revealed enrichment of SIRT1 in the FoxO pathway, along with a co-annotation of reduced body weight (p < 0.05). A549 cells transfected with a miR-212-3p inhibitor showed a dose-dependent increase in SIRT1 expression, indicating SIRT1 as a direct target. Treatment with resveratrol restored SIRT1 and miR-212-3p expression and led to a reduction in inflammatory cytokines (p < 0.05). The modulation of SIRT1 correlated negatively with macrophage infiltration, confirming its role in regulating cellular infiltration and lung inflammation. Fibronectin, alpha-SMA, and collagen levels were significantly decreased in DE + RES compared to DE group suggesting modulation of cellular functions and resolution of lung fibrosis. Furthermore, a significant decrease in FoxO3a and TGF-β gene expressions was observed upon resveratrol administration thereby downregulating pro-fibrotic pathway. ConclusionsThe present study demonstrates resveratrol treatment stabilizes SIRT1 gene expression by attenuating miR-212-3p in DE-exposed mice, leading to downregulation of TGF-β and FoxO3a expressions. The study highlights the therapeutic role of resveratrol in the treatment of DE-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Environmental Enrichment and Metformin Improve Metabolic Functions, Hippocampal Neuron Survival, and Hippocampal-Dependent Memory in High-Fat/High-Sucrose Diet-Induced Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Background: The Western-style diet-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) may eventually trigger neurodegeneration and memory impairment. Thus, it is essential to identify effective therapeutic strategies to overcome T2D complications. This study aimed to investigate the effects of environmental enrichment (EE) and metformin interventions on metabolic dysfunctions, hippocampal neuronal death, and hippocampal-dependent memory impairments in high-fat/high-sucrose (HFS) diet-induced T2D rats. Methods: Thirty-two male rats (200-250 g) were divided into four groups: C group (standard diet + conventional cage); D group (HFS diet + conventional cage); DE group (HFS diet + EE cage/6hr daily); and DM group (HFS diet + metformin + conventional cage). Body weight was measured every week. T-maze tasks, anthropometric, biochemical, histological, and morphometric parameters were measured. The expression changes of hippocampal genes were also analyzed. Results: The anthropometric and biochemical parameters were improved in DE and DM groups compared with the D group. DE and DM groups had significantly higher T-maze percentages than the D group. These groups also had better histological and morphometric parameters than the D group. The interventions of EE and metformin enhanced the expression of hippocampal genes related to neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity (BDNF/TrkB binding, PI3K-Akt, Ras-MAPK, PLCγ-Ca2+, and LTP). Conclusion: Environmental enrichment (EE) and metformin improved metabolic functions, hippocampal neuron survival, and hippocampal-dependent memory in HFS diet-induced T2D rats. The underlying mechanisms of these interventions involved the expression of genes that regulate neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity.

Cyclosporin A improves the hyperosmotic response in an experimental dry eye model by inhibiting the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

Hyperosmolarity is closely related to dry eye disease (DED), which induces corneal epithelial cell structure and dysfunction leading to ocular surface inflammation. Cyclosporine A (CSA) is a cyclopeptide consisting of 11 deduced amino acids. It has an immunosuppressive effect and shows a vital function in inhibiting the inflammatory response. The mechanism of CSA in DED is still not entirely clear. This experiment aimed to investigate the possible mechanism of CSA in the hyperosmotic DED model. This study found that CSA can inhibit the transcript levels of DED high mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear transcription factor κB (NF-κB) in signaling pathways. In addition, the study also found that 550 mOsm/L can induce the formation of DED models in vivo or in vitro. Furthermore, different concentrations of CSA have different effects on the expression of HMGB1 in human corneal epithelial cells under hyperosmotic stimulation, and high concentrations of CSA may increase the expression of HMGB1. In addition, CSA effectively reduced the corneal fluorescence staining score of the DE group and increased the tear volume of mice. Therefore, this experimental investigation might supply new evidence for the mechanism of CSA in DED, provide a potential new therapy for treating DED, and provide a theoretical basis for CSA treatment of DED.

Serological autoimmune profile of systemic lupus erythematosus in deep and non-deep endometriosis patients

ObjectiveSeveral studies have reported a high prevalence of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in endometriosis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the SLE autoimmune antibody profile in patients with deep (DE) and non-deep endometriosis (Non-DE). Materials and methodsFour groups of premenopausal patients were evaluated: patients with DE (n = 50); patients with ovarian endometriomas (Non-DE; n = 50); healthy patients without endometriosis (C group; n = 45); and SLE patients without endometriosis (SLE group; N = 46). Blood samples were obtained and the standard SLE autoimmune profile was evaluated in all patients. Pain symptoms related to endometriosis and clinical SLE manifestations were also recorded. ResultsThe DE group presented a statistically significant higher proportion of patients with antinuclear antibodies (ANA) (20%) compared to the Non-DE group (4%) and C group (2.2%). Levels of complement were more frequently lower among DE and Non-DE patients although differences did not reach statistical significance. Similarly, anti-dsDNA antibodies and anticoagulant lupus were positive in more patients of the DE group but did not reach statistical significance. The DE group complained of more arthralgia and asthenia compared to the Non-DE and C groups. ConclusionsThe results of this study showed higher positivity of ANA and greater arthralgia and asthenia in patients with DE compared with Non-DE patients and healthy controls, suggesting that they may have a higher susceptibility to autoimmune diseases and present more generalized pain.

Effect of Dry Eye Disease on Central Corneal Thickness and Corneal Topometric Indices Measured by Scheimpflug Tomography

To evaluate the effect of dry eye disease (DED) on the central corneal thickness and anterior corneal surface irregularity parameters using Scheimpflug tomography. In this study, the central corneal thickness and topometric indices of the anterior corneal surface were compared between the right eyes of 43 subjects with dry eye (DE group) and the right eyes of 35 non-dry eye individuals (NDE group). The central corneal thickness (CCT) and the topometric indices of the anterior corneal surface, including IVA, IHA, ISV, and IHD, were measured using the Pentacam HR (Pentacam-HR, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany). Dry eye was diagnosed using a symptom questionnaire, TBUT, and Schirmer’s test without anesthesia. The mean ISV, IVA, IHA, and IHD were 17.02 3.43, 0.114 0.04, 5.82 4.82, and 0.011 0.01 in the DE group and 14.65 3.10, 0.086 .03, 3.70 3.23, and 0.007 0.00 in the NDE group, respectively. All of the above corneal irregularity indices were significantly higher in the DE group (P&lt;0.05). The mean CCT was 531.19 µ (±34.88 µ) and 540.66 µ (±27.13 µ) in the DE and NDE group, respectively. Based on linear regression analysis, ISV, IVA, IHA, and IHD had a significant association with DED (P&lt;0.05), while CCT had no significant association with DED (P=0.148). DED significantly increases corneal surface irregularity, but it has no significant effects on CCT measured by the Pentacam.

Demographics and Trends for Inbound Medical Tourism in Germany for Orthopedic Patients before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Medical tourism is a rapidly growing sector of economic growth and diversification. However, data on the demographics and characteristics of the traveling patients are sparse. In this study, we analyzed the common demographic properties and characteristics of the inbound medical tourists seeking orthopedic medical care in Germany for the years 2010 to 2019 compared to a domestic group. At the same time, we examined how the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak of 2020 changed the field of medical tourism in Germany. Calculations were performed using administrative hospital data provided by the Federal Statistical Department of Germany. Data were analyzed from the years 2010 to 2020. A total of six elective orthopedic surgery codes (bone biopsy, knee arthroplasty, foot surgery, osteotomy, hardware removal, and arthrodesis) were identified as key service indicators for medical tourism and further analyzed. Factors including residence, sex, year, and type of elective surgery were modeled using linear regression analysis. Age and sex distributions were compared between patients living inside Germany (DE) or outside Germany (non-DE). Between 2010 and 2020, 6,261,801 orthopedic procedures were coded for the DE group and 27,420 key procedures were identified for the non-DE group. Medical tourists were predominantly male and significantly younger than the domestic population. The linear regression analysis of the OPS codes over the past years showed a significantly different slope between the DE and non-DE groups only for the OPS code "hardware removal". With the COVID-19 pandemic, an overall decline in performed orthopedic procedures was observed for the non-DE and the DE group. A significant reduction below the 95% prediction bands for the year 2020 could be shown for hardware removal and foot surgery (for DE), and for hardware removal, knee arthroplasty, foot surgery, and osteotomy (for non-DE). This study is the first to quantify inbound medical tourism in elective orthopedic surgery in Germany. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected many-but not all-areas of orthopedic surgery. It has to be seen how this negative trend will develop in the future.

Microbiota in MGD

AbstractMGD is characterized by significant changes in meibum quality that may lead to the changes in the existing ocular surface flora that can contribute to the inflammatory state typical of the condition. Several papers have addressed this aspect. Li and coworkers, dividing the DE group into MGD and non‐MGD patients, found that no statistically significant differences between the two groups. 67 Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Acinetobacter and Corynebacterium were the most represented, although Bacilli showed a higher relative abundance in the MGD group and could be considered typical pathogens of MGD. Watters and colleagues studied patients with several degrees of MGD, among which CL wearers were included. Meibum expression did not modify the bacterial profile. CoNS were the most prevalent organisms isolated, present in two thirds of the population studied, although their presence was not correlated to the severity of MGD. CL wearers showed an increased presence of P. acnes that was correlated to MGD severity. No differences in microbiota were observed related to the severity of anterior blepharitis or CL wear. Dong and coworkers, using 16 S rDNA sequencing, investigated the microbiome of 47 Chinese MGD patients compared with a control group of 42 sex‐ and age‐matched subjects without MGD. They found significant differences at the phyla level, with a significantly higher abundance of Firmicutes (31.7% vs. 19.7%) and Proteobacteria (27.5% vs. 14.7%), and a lower abundance of Actinobacteria (34.2% vs. 57%) in MGD vs control patients. At the genus level, the numbers of Staphylococcus (20.7% vs. 7.9%) and Sphingomonas (5.7% vs. 0.8%) were significantly higher in patients with MGD vs controls, while the numbers of Corynebacterium (20.2% vs. 46.4%) were significantly lower. The meiboscores showed a significant direct correlation with the abundance of Staphylococcus in MGD patients. They concluded that patients with MGD can have bacterial microbiota alterations in the conjunctival sac, with a potential role of Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium and Sphingomonas sp. in MGD pathophysiology. In a previous study carried out on a small group of patients with blepharitis, Lee and coworkers demonstrated that blepharitis might be associated with a change in microbial composition, namely, greater quantities of Streptophyta, Corynebacterium and Enhydrobacter species. It was suggested that cytotoxicity and inflammatory components, triggered by bacterial growth, may contribute to the pathological process of MGD. Zheng et al confirmed the changes of ocular surface flora in MGD patients showing a wide bacterial profile and positive aerobic and anaerobic culture, significantly higher in both meibomian secretion and conjunctiva of MGD patients than in controls. The ocular surface inflammatory condition occurring in MGD and blepharitis could be mediated by the induced expression of acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) that is considered an immune response activator and is over expressed in MGD. It can be hypothesized that changes in ocular surface microbial flora can mediate AMCase upregulation.

Effect of Surface Roughness of Deciduous and Permanent Tooth Enamel on Bacterial Adhesion.

The adhesion of some bacteria has been attributed to critical levels of roughness in hard tissues, which increases the risk of developing caries. The objective of this work was to assess the effect of deciduous and permanent tooth enamel surface roughness on bacterial adhesion. One hundred and eight samples of deciduous and permanent enamel were divided into two groups (n = 54). G1_DE deciduous enamel and G2_PE permanent enamel. The surface roughness was measured by profilometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Subsequently, the evaluation of bacterial adherence was carried out in triplicate by means of the XTT cell viability test. Additionally, bacterial adhesion was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The average values of the micrometric roughness in both groups were similar; however, in the nanometric scale they presented significant differences. Additionally, the G1_DE group showed the highest amount of adhered S. mutans and S. sanguinis compared to the G2_EP group. Although the roughness of deciduous and permanent enamel showed contrasting results according to the evaluation technique (area and scale of analysis), bacterial adhesion was greater in deciduous enamel; hence, enamel roughness may not be a determining factor in the bacterial adhesion phenomenon.

An innovative approach to lifelong delayed ejaculation: does attachment style play a role?

To examine whether there is a correlation between attachment styles, which is a developmental psychology theory, and lifelong DE. The research was planned as prospective, multi-centric and cross-sectional study. Thirty patients who were consecutively admitted to the urology outpatient clinic and diagnosed with lifelong DE and 30 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. All participants gave a detailed medical history and underwent a complete physical examination, and their laboratory and endocrine (prolactin and testosterone) results were evaluated. Additionally, all patients had to fill out socio-demographic information form, the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) Questionnaire, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The mean age of the DE patients was 33.5 ± 7.5years. In the DE group, insecure attachment (both anxious and avoidant attachment), anxiety and depression scores were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.001, effect size medium or large) than the control group. Ejaculation times (both for vaginal intercourse and masturbation) were correlated with both insecure (anxious and avoidant) attachment types, as well as their anxiety and depression scores (p < 0.001). The ASEX satisfaction, ejaculation and total scores were found to be higher in DE patients (higher scores indicating greater sexual dysfunction) than in the control group. The large and significant relationships found between lifelong DE and attachment insecurities point to childhood developmental processes. The findings may help us better understand lifelong DE. There is a need for further extensive research on this subject.

Effects of Downhill Running Exercise on Glucose Tolerance and Skeletal Muscle P-AMPK Expression in Type II Diabetes Rats

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of moderate downhill running exercise on glucose tolerance and skeletal muscle phospho-AMP activated protein kinase(P-AMPK) expression in type Ⅱ diabetes rats.METHODS 8-week-old, 24 wistar &amp; GK rats (type Ⅱ diabetes model) were randomly divided into 4 groups, NR, NE, DR, DE. Downhill running treatment were performed on the treadmill at the -16 % and speed of 16m/min for 1 hour. All groups were done with Oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT) and after 1 week washout period, rats in exercise groups performed downhill running. After exercise treatment, soleus muscle of rats were extracted for test of P-AMPK expression.RESULTS In OGTT, blood glucose levels in all groups were increased after the oral glucose load and these were significantly differ from rest level. But in DE group, blood glucose level at 120 min after OGTT was not significantly differ from rest level. In immunoblotting test for P-AMPK expression of skeletal muscle, NE group was significantly higher than NR group and DE group was significantly higher than other groups.CONCLUSIONS Downhill running exercise improved glucose tolerance and increased P-AMPK expression of skeletal muscle in type Ⅱ diabetes rats.

The immediate meniscal allograft transplantation achieved better chondroprotection and less meniscus degeneration than the conventional delayed transplantation in the long-term.

The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes between the immediate and delayed meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT). Nine menisci were transplanted immediately after total meniscectomy (immediate group, IM), and 10 menisci were delayed transplanted in patients with the median of 35months (range 9-92months) after total meniscectomy (delayed group, DE). Patient's subjective clinical outcomes including VAS, IKDC, Lysholm and Tegner scores as well as muscle strength measures were compared. Joint degeneration was evaluated by both radiographs to assess joint space width narrowing, Kellegren-Lawrence (KL) grade and MRI with T2 mapping sequences to quantitatively analyze both cartilage and meniscal allograft degeneration. The median follow-up time was 10.8years (range 10-14years). The IKDC (IM vs DE, 89.8 vs 80.9, n.s.) and Lysholm scores (IM vs DE, 87.7 vs 78.0, n.s.) were close in two groups, while the IM group showed slightly lower VAS (IM vs DE, 0.2 vs 1.5, p = 0.031), higher Tegner score (IM vs DE, 7 vs 3.5 p = 0.021) and better quadriceps muscle strength. The IM group had less joint space narrowing (IM vs DE, 0.35mm vs 0.71mm, n.s.), less KL grade progression (IM vs DE, 0.6 vs 1.7, p = 0.041) on radiographs and less chondral lesions development on MRIs (Cartilage Degeneration Index, IM vs DE, 252 vs 2038, p = 0.025). All meniscal grafts exhibited degeneration by showing grade 3 signal on MRI, and 4 (4/9) in the IM group and 8 (8/10) cases in the DE group. The T2 value of cartilage and meniscal allograft in the IM group was close to that of the healthy control and was significantly lower than that of the DE group. Compared to the conventional delayed MAT, the immediate MAT achieved better cartilage and meniscus protection in the long-term, while its superiority in patient-reported outcomes was limited. IV.

Meibomian Glands and Tear Film Findings in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundThe characteristics of the meibomian gland and tear film in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with different glycemic control levels and diabetic durations remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to identify the association of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in T2D.Materials and MethodsNinety-nine patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM group), 33 dry eye patients without diabetes mellitus (DE group), and 40 normal subjects (NC group) were recruited for this study. Participants were evaluated with an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, tear film breakup time (BUT), the Schirmer I test (SIT), corneal fluorescein staining (FL), lipid layer thickness (LLT), and MGD parameters. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and duration of diabetes were recorded.ResultsThe SIT value in the DM group was higher than that of the DE group (p < 0.05). The BUT and LLT were lower, and MGD parameters were higher in the DM group than those of the DE and NC groups (p < 0.05). In the DM group, 47 patients were diagnosed with dry eye (DM + DE group), whereas 40 patients without dry eye were categorized as the DM − DE group. The SIT, BUT, and LLT values in the DM − DE group were higher (p < 0.01), and MGD parameters were lower (p < 0.01) in the DM − DE group than those of the DM + DE group. The MGD parameters were higher in the DM − DE group than those in the NC group (p < 0.05). The HbA1c levels were correlated with OSDI, BUT, LLT, FL, and MGD parameters (p < 0.001) in the DM group. However, in patients with low HbA1c, normal SIT value, and low OSDI, the MGD parameters were higher than those in the NC group (p < 0.05). The duration of diabetes positively correlated with MGD parameters (p < 0.001).ConclusionAsymptomatic MGD may be an early sign of dry eye and ocular discomfort in T2D. The MGD parameters were associated with the HbA1c level and diabetic duration.